Land degradation costs 262 000ha forests loss annually

Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S efforts to combat the devastating effects of climate change through Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) are being undermined by the alarming rate of land degradation, with the country losing an average of 262 000 hectares of forest annually.
The issue emerged during a one-day validation workshop on the National Strategy for Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in Zimbabwe, held in Mutare on Tuesday.
According to the draft strategy presented at the workshop, land degradation, particularly deforestation, loss of soil organic matter, wetland degradation and the overexploitation of natural resources, is weakening the resilience of ecosystems that are critical in addressing climate change.
The report notes that climate change continues to manifest through increasingly frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves, floods and cyclones, resulting in significant economic losses, water insecurity, declining agricultural productivity and growing food insecurity.
“Land degradation, especially deforestation, loss of soil organic matter, wetland degradation and overexploitation of natural resources, erodes natural ecosystem resilience,” reads part of the report.
It further states that Zimbabwe loses approximately 262 000 hectares of forests every year and about six percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to land degradation.
“This is eroding the national potential to store carbon, regulate water and maintain healthy ecosystems, further undermining climate resilience,” the report says.
Addressing participants at the workshop, acting Secretary for Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Mr Washington Zhakata, described climate change as one of the most pressing development challenges facing the country.
“Zimbabwe continues to experience rising temperatures, prolonged and recurrent droughts, increasingly erratic rainfall patterns, devastating tropical cyclones, floods and widespread land degradation,” he said.
Mr Zhakata noted that these climate-induced hazards are placing unprecedented pressure on ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, infrastructure, biodiversity and public health, while threatening livelihoods, food security and the achievement of Vision 2030.
“Responding to these challenges requires bold, innovative and cost-effective adaptation measures,” he said.
He highlighted that implementing Zimbabwe’s National Adaptation Plan is estimated to require US$10,3 billion, making it imperative for the country to maximise investments that deliver environmental, social and economic benefits simultaneously.
Mr Zhakata said nature-based solutions offer one of the most practical pathways towards strengthening climate resilience.
“By protecting, restoring and sustainably managing our forests, wetlands, grasslands, rivers, catchments and other critical ecosystems, we can reduce climate risks while conserving biodiversity, strengthening water security, improving agricultural productivity, creating green jobs, supporting sustainable livelihoods and enhancing community well-being,” he said.
He added that healthy ecosystems serve as natural buffers against climate extremes and remain among the most effective and affordable tools for building long-term resilience.
“Simply put, nature itself holds many of the solutions to the climate crisis we face today,” said Mr Zhakata.
The development of the Nature-Based Solutions Strategy is part of Zimbabwe’s broader efforts to implement its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Climate Policy, and National Development Strategy (NDS2).
The strategy also advances the country’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international environmental agreements.
Officials say the strategy will contribute towards Zimbabwe’s goal of attaining an empowered and prosperous upper-middle-income economy by 2030 through sustainable environmental management and climate-resilient development.
The workshop was attended by senior Government officials, representatives of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), development partners including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), civil society organisations, academia and research institutions, private sector representatives and traditional leaders.